A Roundup of the Cheapest Eats in America

You don’t need to spend a lot for a good meal. There are plenty of restaurants across the U.S. that serve delicious food that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

To determine the best cheap eats across America, GOBankingRates found the most highly rated inexpensive restaurant in each state’s largest city based on Yelp reviews. Now you’ll be able to find the best food without overspending.

Last updated: Sept. 26, 2019

Alabama — Falafel Café

  • Falafel Pita Sandwich: $6.45

You might not immediately think of Middle Eastern food when you think of Southern cuisine, but Birmingham’s Falafel Café is the real deal. The casual dining spot is best known for its chicken shawarma, hummus and — of course — falafel. One Yelp reviewer said that his meal at Falafel Café was “the best food I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

Alaska — Arctic Roadrunner

  • Alaskan Banquet: $5.25

Arctic Roadrunner in Anchorage is where the locals go for burgers. Open since 1964, the restaurant is truly “no frills” — burgers and sides are served on paper plates. But who cares about the plates when the food is this good? Go for the Alaskan Banquet — a quarter-pound patty topped with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and onion — for a sure-to-please cheap thrill.

Arizona — Kiss Pollos Estilo Sinaloa

  • Kiss Taco: $1.69

Chicken lovers should head to Kiss Pollos Estilo Sinaloa, which serves Phoenix’s juiciest pollo asada and grilled chicken. The dishes are prepared in a Sinaloa-style marinade that features red chile and a variety of other flavorful spices, so the chicken packs a punch. You can get your chicken served pretty much any way you want — in a taco, burrito, tostada or salad. The popular Kiss Taco features melted cheese, sprinkled pork and the restaurant’s signature cheese chicken.

Arkansas — Three Fold Noodles and Dumplings

  • Dumpling Bowl: $7.89

This cheap eatery has a simple, minimalist vibe, but the flavors served here are anything but. TripAdvisor ranks this trendy Chinese eatery as the No. 2 out of 42 “Quick Bites” restaurants in all of Little Rock, and one Yelp reviewer praised Three Fold for having “hands down some of the best dumplings I have ever had.” Other standout food items here include the taro chips, carrot slaw and bubble tea.

California — Corner Grille

  • Roscoe Burger: $3.49

Yelp rated Corner Grille in the Los Angeles area the No. 1 burger spot in America in 2017 thanks to its flavorful Korean-inspired burgers. A basic Roscoe Burger costs only $2.99, but if you’re willing to spend a few bucks more, upgrade to the ultra-savory Kalbi Burger, which features Korean barbecue beef, pickled onions, shredded cabbage, spicy mayo and special sauce.